Seems I have to update my MACBOOK PRO 2015 from Catalina to Big Sur to have the latest version of NI Kontakt working.

Is it safe to jump over Big Sur and install Monterey instead according to plugins?
Using Maschine for my productions so I hope that it will be no issues moving from Catalina.

 

Should be no problem.

 

Should not be an issue if you know what apps are Monterey compatible. Otherwise, Big Sur then, Monterey.

Make certain that you have all important data backed up using Time Machine or manually to on external source before doing a Monterey upgrade.

 

Ok, thanks for the replies.
Is there any difference in terms of Audio performance between Big Sur & Monterey?

 

Do you mean system performance? Audio performance (sound quality is governed by system/DAW settings & hardware audio drivers.
This would also include any changes in the Apple Core Audio.

Make use of the Apple support system for technical info. As an example:
https://developer.apple.com/documentation/coreaudiotypes

 

You should go to the newest macOS that you know will be compatible with everything you are using. Most of the most recent ones change very little for the regular end user; maybe this is more so of Intel machines. Make sure your Audio Interface is supported by the manufacturer already. If you create a Time Capsule before updating, you can always just roll it back.

 

I mean system performance when using my DAWs.

 

You won't even notice a difference. You might get a little benefit if you were using Apple Silicon, but you will not see any improvement on a 2015 intel.

 

Any software that is optimized for a given version of macOS will perform just as well if not better than normal. Big Sur has been good on my 2014 MacBook Air (secondary computer). Main system is Windows based.